Non-refillable bottle.



1.]. A. MILLER.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 11. 1914.

Patented May 11,1915.

THE NORklS PETERS Co PHoTo-LITMQ, WASHING TON, D4 C JOHN J. A. MILLER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

NON-BEFILLABLE BOTTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed March 17, 1914. Serial No. 825,270.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. A. MILLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Non-Refillable Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in non-refillable bottles.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character, which is simple in construction, and'can be'readily manufactured, and which requires only such change in the construction of the necks of bottles as can be easily made, the device being so held in the said necks as to necessitate the destruction of the said devices before they can be removed from bottles.

A further object is to provide a device of this character, which permits liquid to flow from the bottle only when the same is turned at such an angle that its bottom is on a higher plane than its mouth, the valve being held to close the bottle in all positions of the same, when the bottle is empty.

Further, to provide a non-refillable device for bottles having a valve capable of permitting liquid to flow from the bottle in a stream, or to be ejected therefrom in drops as when used for dispensing perfumes, etc.

These objects are accomplished by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, illustrating the improved non-refillable device secured in the neck of a bottle. Fig. 2, is a side view, partly broken away, of the outer casing or housing of the device. Fig. 3, is a plan view of the same. Fig. l, is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, of the valve casing. Fig.

5, is a plan view thereof. Fig. 6, is a side view of the valve. Fig. 7, is a plan view thereof. Fig. 8, is a side view of thecap for the valve casing. Fig. 9, is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 10, is a bottom plan view of the resilient locking ring. And Fig. 11, is a perspective view, illustrating a modification in the character of the locking device.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the accompanying draw ingsThe numeral 1, designates the neck of a bottle, which is formed with an internal shallow annular recess 2, at a suitable d stance from the mouth thereof. The lower edge of this recess terminates in an annular pro ecting lip 3, of sufficient width to support a locking device to be presently described. The non-refillable device comprises an outer casing or housing 4, a valve casing 5, a valve 6, and a cap 7 for the valve casing, together with a locking device 8, the parts being arranged and constructed in the following manner: The housing 4, is cylindrical in form, and is provided at its opposite ends with projecting annular rims 9 and 10 respectively, the lower rim 10 being of slightly less diameter than the rim 9, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The rim 9 is preferably provided with an annular recess 11, in which is placed an elastic packing ring 12, which causes the upper end of the said casing to fit tightly in the neck of the bottle, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1. The housing 4 is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end, and this closed end is provided with concentric circular rows of inclined holes 13, those of each row radiating from a common axial point within the housing. The housing and other parts of the device excepting the looking ring, are preferably made of glass or porcelain, though any other suitable material may be employed. lVithin the housing is first placed the cap 7, which is in the form of a disk having a central upwardly projecting lug 14, which bears against the end of the housing, thereby forming a space 15, between the said cap and the end of the housing. The cap is formed with a circular row of holes 16, which radiate from a common axial point, in like manner as the holes 13, but the holes 16 are out of line with those in the housing, so that any at tempt to tamper with the valve, by the employment of a wire or other means, would thereby be foiled. The valve 6 is next placed within the valve casing 5, and these are inserted in the housing, the upper end of the space being left between the seat and the inner face of the casing to permit the How of liquid around the valve, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1.

An interior annular projection 19 similar to the projection 17, is formed at the lower end of the casing, these two projections forming guideways or bearings for the valve, which thus moves with much less friction than would be the case if its entire surface were in contact with that of the casing. The valve 6 comprises a cylindrical member closed at its upper end, which is formed with an annular rim or projection 20, which is beveled on its under edge to correspond to the seat 18, in which it is seated. Ports or openings 21 are formed in the body of the valve adjoining its closed end, which permit the outflow of liquid when the valve is raised from its seat, as will be fully eX plained hereinafter.

An axial recess 22 is formed in the under side of the cap 7, and a corresponding recess 23 is formed in the opposing end of the valve, the latter recess being surrounded by an annular rim 24, as shown, and these recesses surround or inclose the opposite ends of a coil spring 25, which is of suflicient strength to insure the seating of the valve when the bottle is in an upright position, or to keep the valve seated in any position of the bottle when the same is empty.

hen the parts are assembled, the lower ends of the housing, the valve casing, and the valve are flush, and these parts are held in assembled relation and secured within the neck of a bottle, in the following man ner:

Against the lower ends of the housing and valve casing is placed a resilient washer 26, cork being preferable, and this is held in place by the resilient divided locking ring 8, which is in the form of a band having inturned upper and lower flanges 27 and 28 V respectively, the upper flange 27 being much narrower than the lower flange 28, which is notched or recessed, as shown at 29, to allow for the free diametrical expansion and contraction of the band portion of the locking ring. After the cork washer 26 is placed against the lower ends of the housing and valve casing, the locking ring is sprung over the end of the housing and washer 26, so that the recessed flange 28 of the said ring engages the said washer 26, while the flange 27 en-' gages the annular rim 10 of the housing, the ring being expanded.

The parts thus assembled, are inserted in the mouth of the bottle and the diameter of the rim 10 of the housing is such that when the locking ring is compressed upon it, the diameter of the said ring in its compressed form is the same as the interior diameter of the neck of the bottle. The assembled parts are pressed down into the said neck until the lower flange of the locking ring engages the annular lip or projection 3, when the ring expands and enters the registering annular recess 2, in the neck of the bottle,

but its upper flange still engages the upper edge of the rim 10, whereby the housing,

with the parts inclosed thereby, is held within the bottle neck, and cannot be removed without the destruction either of the said housing or of the bottle.

The bottle is filled with the required liquid, before the non-refillable device is inserted in the neck thereof, enough space being left between the upper end of the housing and the mouth of the bottle for the insertion of the usual cork stopper 30.

In Fig. 11, I have illustrated a modification of the locking means, which is in the form of a flat spring 31, which is provided at each end with pairs of inturned ears 32, which are bent at right angles to the spring, and are adapted to engagethe rim 10 of the housing 4-, in the manner shown. Two or more of these locking devices are employed, and they have a curvature of shorter radius than that of the rim 10, so that when placed upon the said rim their ends contact with the same, while their intermediate portions are spaced from the said rim, as shown. They are compressed, however, to contact with the rim at all points, when inserted in the mouth of the bottle, and when the housing is pressed down until it rests upon the lip 3, the springs 31 expand to the position shown in Fig. 11, so that their intermediate portionsengage the upper edge of the recess 2 in the bottle neck, while their ears 32 engage the rim 10, whereby the housing with its inclosed parts is locked within the neck of the bottle.

In operation, when it is desired to withdraw. a portion or all of the contents of a bottle equipped with my improved non-refillable device, the stopper 30 is first removed, and the bottle is tilted sufficiently to bring its mouth on a lower plane than its bottom. The pressure of the liquid upon the valve, moves the same away from its seat, as the spring 25 is not strong enou h to withstand the said pressure, and t e liquid flows out through the valve ports 21 and through the holes 16 in the cap 7, into the space 15, between the cap and closed end of the housing, and out through the holes 13, in the said closed end of the housing. When the bottle is restored to an upright position, the valve drops by the combined action of gravity and the spring 25, down upon its seat. In all cases where liquid is to be poured from the bottle, the spring 25 should not be strong enough to counteract the pressure of the liquid against the opposite side of the valve; but in the case of bottles containing perfumery or such other liquids as are required only in very small quantities or drops, a much stronger spring is employed to hold the valve upon its seat, and when the bottle is tilted and shaken so as to throw its contents forcibly against the valve, the same is moved slightly from its seat, and again quickly reseated, so that the contents is ejected in drops, the outlet holes, in such cases, being sufficiently small to meet the requirements of the case. Thus, by employing springs of varying tension or strength, the device is rendered equally effective in the case of liquids which are to be poured from bottles, or those which are to be dashed or shaken therefrom.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a non-refillable bottle, the combination with a bottle neck having an interior annular recess, the lower edge of which terminates in an extended annular projection, of a housing having annular projections on its opposite ends, and an integral wall or diaphragm over its upper end provided with circular rows of inclined holes radiating from a common axial point, a cap in the housing having a central spacing lug in contact with its closed end, and inclined holes out of line with those in the said closed end. a valve casing in the housing the upper end of which abuts against said cap, an annular projection in said casing having a beveled valve seat on its upper edge, a valve in said casing comprising a cylindrical body portion, and an annular beveled valve portion which rests upon said seat, ports being formed at the junction of the body portion and valve portion, an expansion coil spring 7 band being adapted to expand and enter the annular recess of the bottle neck when the housing is inserted to its limit.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. A. MILLER.

Witnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, ELIZABETH SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

